If
you are one of those who seek a high quality of life above anything
else, Canada is the place for you. It has been consistently ranked by
the UN as the number one country in the world to live in. Having a
large Asian population of students, Canada offers a truly international
educational experience.
Furthermore, the Canadian degree or diploma is instantly recognized
around the world as being of the highest standard. And you get all this
at a remarkably low cost – .both in terms of cost of education and the
cost of living. Tuition fees for international students in Canada are
much lower than other countries.
More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year. In
addition to this number are many more that come to Canada to learn
English or French. Foreign students bring a rich culture to Canada’s
classrooms. The provinces regulate education and schools in Canada.
Canada spends more per capita on education than any other country in
the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Canada is an incredible country - a land of immense geography, extreme
climate, vast resources, and a small but ethnically diverse population.
Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America. It is the
world's second-largest country by total area, and extends from the
Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic
Ocean. Canada shares land borders with the United States to the
northwest and south.
Population
A 2007 estimate puts population of Canada to 32,884,200.
Climate
Average winter and summer high temperatures across Canada vary
depending on the location. Winters can be harsh in many regions of the
country, particularly in the Prairie provinces. On the east and west
coast average high temperatures are generally in the low 20°C (68 to
74°F), while between the coasts the average summer high temperature
range between 25°C to 30°C (78 to 86°F) with occasional extreme heat in
some interior locations exceeding 40°C (104°F).
Provinces and Territories
Canada is composed of ten provinces and three territories. The
provinces have a large degree of autonomy from the federal government,
the territories somewhat less. Each has its own provincial or
territorial symbols.
The provinces are responsible for most of Canada's social programs
(such as health care, education, and welfare) and together collect more
revenue than the federal government, an almost unique structure among
federations in the world.
Main Cities
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and home for the Governor-General of Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada.
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the fifth most populous city in North America.
Montreal is the largest French speaking city in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest city by population in Canada.
The other big cities are - Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg.
Culture & Multiculturism
Canadian culture has been influenced by American culture because of its
proximity and migration between the two countries. It has historically
been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and
traditions. American media and entertainment are popular if not
dominant in Canada; conversely, many Canadian cultural products and
entertainers are successful in the US and worldwide. Many cultural
products are marketed toward a unified North American or global market.
Canada is a geographically vast and ethnically diverse country. There
are cultural variations and distinctions from province to province and
region to region. Canadian culture has also been greatly influenced by
immigration from all over the world. Many Canadians value
multiculturalism, and see Canadian culture as being inherently
multicultural.
The United Nations ranked Canada as the best place in the world to live!
This assessment was based upon Canada's achievements in terms of
educational attainment, life expectancy, national income and general
quality of life. It also included Canada's abundance of fresh water,
comfortable population density, low incidence of violent crime and a
health care system that is a model for the world.
Canada's education system is excellent and ranks among the best in the world
Moreover Canadian tuition fees are among the lowest in English-speaking countries.
Internationally recognized degrees
Canada boasts a wide range of quality educational institutions for both
degrees and diplomas in technical and professional disciplines. Over
106,000 international students attend Canadian colleges and
universities. This means that you can meet people from around the world
as well as people from your own country.
Possibility to work in Canada after study
International students who have graduated from a Canadian university or
college have the opportunity to work in Canada for up to one year after
they receive their degree or diploma. International students can work
on campus without a work permit. Plans are being made to allow
international students to work off-campus, too.
A safe, stable country
Canada is a peaceful, politically stable, and safe country. There are
laws that protect the rights of the citizens and the country is
relatively unaffected by natural disasters. Almost 65 per cent of
international students involved in a 1999 CBIE survey cited Canada's
reputation as a safe country as an important reason for deciding to
study here.
Excellent health care
Compared to other countries, medical insurance is inexpensive in Canada
yet the services that Canadian hospitals provide are among some of the
most advanced and accessible in the world.
Learn or improve another language!
For over a century, Canada's two official languages (English and
French) have been taught as second a language. International students
often choose to take language courses before beginning a regular
academic program.
A multicultural country
Canada has a national policy for multiculturalism and works to ensure
that people's customs and traditions are preserved and respected.
Welcoming to International Students
Canadians can be reserved with newcomers but are generally very
welcoming and respectful of differences. Educational institutions
encourage new students from abroad and many have targets to increase
their numbers of international students. One thing is for sure--your
time in Canada will be something that you will never forget!
Canada
offers a wide choice of over 90 universities and 150 colleges and
technical institutes, featuring virtually every program imaginable.
Education in Canada is provided, funded and overseen by federal,
provincial, and local governments. Education is within provinicial
jurisdiction and the curriculum is overseen by the province, without a
ministry of education at the federal or national level. Education in
Canada is generally divided by Elementary (Primary School, Public
School), followed by Secondary (High School) and Post Secondary
(University, College). Within the provinces under the department of
education, there are district school boards administering the
educational programs.[2] Education is compulsory up to an age of 16.
There are significant differences between the education systems of the
different provinces of Canada. Secondary schooling in Canada could go
up to Grade 11, 12 or 13, depending on the province unlike in India,
where Grade 12 is standard all over the country.
Pre-University
Pre-University and secondary education combined are sometimes referred
to as K-12 (Kindergarten through Grade 12).
Post Secondary Education
Post secondary education is offered by four types of educational institutions...
Universities
Canadian universities are largely public funded, and, as a result,
offer consistently high quality education at lower tuition rates for
international students than their counterparts in competing countries.
They offer a broad range of courses and degrees from Undergraduate to
Doctorate and also Certificate and Professional Degrees.
University Colleges
As a component of the Canadian university system, University Colleges
offer students a choice of either academic oriented University Degree
programmes or the more practical-oriented College Diplomas and
Certificates. As a part of the Canadian college system, university
colleges are distinguished by their strong student support services,
small classes and strong campus environments. They also offer combined
degree/diploma programmes and university transfer programmes.
Community Colleges and Technical Institutes
They typically have a more vocational-related curricula, with small
classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater ratio of laboratory
space to class room space, and an interactive teaching style. The
uniqueness of Canadian colleges lies in the combination of
employer-centered curricula. These institutes have the primary function
of responding to the training needs of business, industry, and public
service sectors. Most colleges and technical institutes offer diplomas
and certificates rather than degrees, however, more and more now grant
degrees and applied degrees.
Technical / Career College
This is a privately owned and operated school with the main objective
of preparing students for the job market after a short period of
instruction. The emphasis at career colleges is on practical skills
over a broad range of programmes. They specialize in such areas as
business, computers, and secretarial skills. Although privately owned,
these institutes are provincially approved and regulated, ensuring that
programmes standards and quality are maintained.
The average range of fees is as below...
Level |
Cost in CDN $ |
Bachelors |
4,500 - 16,000 |
Graduate |
4,000 - 19,000 |
The living expenses range from CDN $ 7,200-11,000 per year. The expenses are high in big cities like Montreal and Vancouver
There
are various organisations within Canada that administer scholarship
programs but they are usually for graduate students and professors who
are studying or researching a specific subject; Canadian studies is a
typical area for which scholarships are awarded. Limited financial
assistance is available for international students coming from abroad.
However, some schools may offer scholarships (based on academic merit)
specifically for foreign students. |
